by Lynn Emery
“Good to see you,” Rand spoke first. He crossed the room and shook hands with Derrick.
“Hello. Talia.” Derrick nodded to her.
“Hello,” she replied in a bland tone.
Monette glanced from Talia to Derrick. She smiled at him widely. “Come over here and give me a hug. Don’t you get finer by the day,” she exclaimed.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” Derrick hugged her gently.
“I’m like an old hen, tough,” Monette joked. She looked at Talia. “Quit actin’ like you don’t know this man.”
“Monette,” Talia clipped, a warning note in her voice and eyes.
“Let’s get down to business so we don’t tire you out,” Derrick said.
“Guess we gonna have to skip the chitchat this go-round,” she quipped. Her sassy grin didn’t fade when Talia squinted at her.
Jim cleared his throat. “The parole board meets in three weeks. I can’t get a feel for the outcome. Of course it helps that we don’t have victims lined up to speak.”
“Yes, but we’ve got the Barron factor,” Derrick said with a frown. “His office has issued press releases to the media about the illegal drug trade and the violence that goes with it.”
“There was an article about the parole hearing in the Baton Rouge Advocate,” Jim added.
“Not only that, the reporter went into Monette’s arrest history.” Talia uncrossed her legs and sat forward. “A coincidence? I don’t think so.”
“Barron has a subtle campaign aimed at Monette,” Derrick said with a frown. “At least that’s what I think.”
“Okay, let’s say he does.” Jim leaned against the headboard of Monette’s bed with one hand. “Why? What’s his special interest?”
“Good question,” Talia said, her lovely eyebrows arched high. “We’re here so Monette can fill us in.”
Monette blinked rapidly when all three turned to her. “What?” Her big brown eyes widened.
“She’s good. Girlfriend has broken every one of the Ten Commandments at least fifty times, and she can still look innocent as a baby,” Talia said dryly.
“That ain’t no way to talk to your mama.” Monette pursed her lips.
“Cut the crap, Monette. I know the truth is unfamiliar territory, but give it a try.” Talia’s eyes narrowed.
“Miz Rose raised you better than to smartmouth your own mama.” Monette waved a hand in the air when Talia opened her mouth. “Okay, okay. Don’t show out.”
“We can’t protect you unless we know everything, Monette. I gotta know who to watch and who to go after,” Derrick put in.
“Quit playing Batman, alright?” Talia turned on him. “If there’s a threat to Monette, we’ll call the police.”
“The police won’t care about me.” Monette wore a bitter smile. “Just as soon see me in a box.”
“Their job is to enforce the law no matter what,” Talia replied heatedly. “They damn well better care, or I’ll raise hell.”
“There’s a little thing called proof. And don’t jump on me. I’m on your side.” Derrick grimaced at the cold look in Talia’s eyes.
“With friends like you we don’t need enemies,” Talia hissed.
“He gave us leads to follow up on that paid off,” Jim said.
“One of his ‘leads’ attacked Monette.” Talia glared at Derrick, her arms crossed. “I think a bit more caution is in order,” she said acidly.
Derrick winced at her accusation. “I certainly didn’t intend to put Monette in danger, Talia. But maybe I could have been more careful. Especially when I realized Barron was involved somehow.”
“Hindsight is perfect vision,” Talia retorted. Before he could respond, she turned her attention back to Monette. “Which brings us back to you, lady.”
“Damn, she’s on everybody’s butt today,” Monette muttered.
Jim glanced briefly at Talia, then at Monette. “Bad mood or not, she’s right. Start from the beginning, and don’t leave out anything this time.”
“Talk,” Talia ordered. She sat down and fixed her mother with a stern stare.
Barron paced the floor in front of the wide window. He ignored the sparkling lights that lit up the French Quarter to the east and the riverfront to the west. The view from the fifteenth floor of New Orleans Marriott Hotel was dazzling but wasted at the moment. His brother watched him and sipped from a heavy tumbler filled with cognac.
“You’ve known Larry a long time. Our fathers have been friends since college. He’s loyal to you,” Thomas said.
“I don’t want to test his loyalty, not with this.” Winn wore an anxious frown as he rubbed his face.
“So you’re not sure he’s with us.” Thomas gazed at his brother steadily. “I’m surprised.”
“He goes by the book,” Winn blurted out.
“Real smart,” Thomas snapped. “You helped him get elected knowing you had skeletons in the closet.”
“Don’t start with me.” Winn went to the minibar and poured himself a whiskey and soda.
“I’m always pulling your rear end out of a tight spot.” Thomas rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
“Jerry won’t talk. He’s got too much on the line.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Thomas had a thoughtful grimace on his narrow face. He unbuttoned his jacket and sat down.
“What do you think we should do next?” Winn asked. He gazed at his older brother expectantly.
“Pity you didn’t ask me that question fifteen years ago!” Thomas’s voice cracked like a whip.
“No one will believe her,” Winn said weakly. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead.
“You’d better hope not. In the meantime you should cross your fingers Hines takes a turn for the worse.”
“Maybe we’d better talk to him again.” Winn wiped his mouth.
Thomas gazed at Winn, his eyes narrowed to icy blue slits. “Not ‘we.’ I suggest you go visit him.”
“You’re joking of course.” Winn’s eyes widened in terror.
“No, I’m not. He was your faithful employee. It would look odd if you didn’t go,” Thomas replied in a dull voice.
“They could be waiting for me to show up, a trap,” Winn spluttered.
“Don’t be absurd!” Thomas turned a look of scorn on his younger brother.
“I—I just don’t know.” Winn gulped down the last bit of liquor and went to pour more.
“Talk to him alone, assure him that Ms. Victor’s gangster co-defendants are still a threat. Tell him you’ll protect him and make sure the state police work around the clock to solve the crime.” Thomas nodded slowly as though pleased with his plan.
“He won’t buy that line, Thomas! Jerry isn’t a fool.”
Thomas stood. He carefully smoothed the silk-and-wool-blend suit fabric, then tucked his tie neatly inside the jacket before buttoning it. “I suggest you give the performance of a lifetime, dear brother.”
“Unbelievable,” Talia whispered. She stared at her mother. “You’ve done some wild things in your life. But this…” She shook her head slowly.
Jim Rand stood with his back to them all and spoke over his shoulder. “Just when were you going to let me in on this little bombshell, Monette?”
“I really thought it was safer if y’all didn’t know, at least not until the very end.” Monette balled up a section of the bedsheet in one fist. “Considerin’ all that’s happened, I still think so.”
“No, it’s better for us to know,” Derrick said. He glanced at Talia. Her stunned expression worried him. “Are you okay?”
Talia seemed to shake herself in an attempt to recover. “I’m fine,” she said without looking at him.
Derrick wanted to wrap her in a blanket of protection. He could feel her fear. This was what she’d most dreaded about coming home, being drawn back into the same cycle of being on the run.
“I don’t want my daughter caught up in this stuff, Jim. Derrick, take her home,” Monette said.
“No,” Talia said loudly.
“Listen to me. You don’t know these folks like I do.” Monette beckoned to her. “Come here, please,” she added when Talia didn’t move.
Talia walked to the bed. “How long before everything you’ve done stops bouncing back on us?” she said in a strained voice.
“Please, Talia, I’m beggin’ you. Listen to me this one last time. If Mama Rose is okay, go back to D.C.,” she said with intensity, tugging on Talia’s hand for emphasis.
Jim frowned. “You might best help the situation by being out of harm’s way.”
Talia extricated her hand from Monette’s hold. “Some jerk called me and claimed he had information about your trial. I was supposed to meet him, but he didn’t show.”
“Who was it? When? And why didn’t you tell me?” Derrick fired the questions at her in irritation.
“First, he didn’t introduce himself. Second, it was a week ago, and third, I didn’t want you charging in making things worse,” Talia fired back. “I was going to find out what he knew and tell Jim.”
“You could have ended up in a hospital bed, too! Damn it, Talia.” Derrick put his hands on his hips. “Being stubborn is one thing, but stupidity is not your style.”
“No, stupid is your department.” Talia stared back at him without flinching.
“Stop it right now!” Monette shouted, then gasped for breath.
Jim rushed to her bedside. “Take it easy.” He turned to Derrick and Talia. “Fighting each other is only going to give them an edge.”
“I’m okay.” Monette put a hand on his arm and smiled when he covered it with hers.
“I’m sorry,” Derrick said quickly. He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Talia stopped talking to me, and now I find out she put herself in danger.”
“I understand, baby. You care about her,” Monette said gently. “You, young lady, oughta get a spankin’ for what you did!”
Talia’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”
“Derrick’s too much of a gentleman to say so, but I will. Hell, you been mad at me for twenty years, so I figure I ain’t got nothin’ to lose.” Monette sat up straighter. “Stop bein’ so hardheaded and let him help you.”
“Drop the indignant mama act, not after you kept us in the dark about the truth.” Talia turned her ire toward Monette again.
“Don’t upset your mother.” Jim tightened his grip on Monette’s hand protectively.
“Unbelievable! The whole world has gone insane!” Talia threw up both hands.
“Okay, everybody chill.” Monette took a deep breath as Jim fluffed her pillow.
“We need to work together, kids. Put aside the feuding for now. Monette’s life is at stake.” Jim and Monette gazed at them intently, waiting for a reply.
Derrick cleared his throat. “Of course you’re right. Sorry, Talia.”
“Yeah,” Talia replied with a sullen expression.
“Excuse me? ‘Yeah’ is all you got to say?” Monette said to Talia.
“Don’t press my last nerve, Monette.” Talia glanced at Derrick. “I made myself clear about his sticking his nose into your case.”
“I couldn’t ignore what I found out, Talia. Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
Derrick gazed at her full lips set in an angry line. He wanted to feel the fire that burned in her lovely eyes, even if anger fueled it. Talia’s unyielding pose didn’t dampen his hunger to stroke her fine body.
“You got something right, we disagree.”
“But since he’s on the right track, then he needs to keep working it,” Jim insisted as he gazed at Talia. “Well?”
“It’s not like anybody is listening to me anyway.” She strode back to the vinyl chair and sat down hard. “So let’s hear the rest, Monette. I’m sure there’s more.”
“Start with you and Barron again,” Derrick said. He saw Jim wince.
“I got one of those jobs through a welfare program down at the courthouse. Winn was the DA, and he noticed me. He liked to party, and so did I.”
“Uh-huh.” Talia raised an eyebrow at her.
Monette cleared her throat and went on. “Lots of so-called respectable people lead double lives. You’d be surprised at the lawyers, doctors, even politicians I used to hang with at nightclubs in New Orleans and Houston.”
“No I wouldn’t,” Talia said in a sour tone.
“Talia, come on.” Derrick shook his head at her.
“Then I had a little bit of trouble, nothing serious at first. Just a speeding ticket. Winn started keepin’ up with me sorta.” Monette glanced at Jim. “He, uh, helped me a coupla more times, and one thing led to another.”
“You became lovers,” Jim said. He pressed his lips together.
“He was good to me at first. I mean buyin’ me stuff. Remember all those presents I got you one Christmas? You had a Black Barbie and her beach house,” Monette said to Talia, who only nodded. “He owned a lot of rent houses, so I always had a place to stay.”
“Those roach motels weren’t exactly mansions. Seems like he could have given you a nice house,” Talia retorted with a grimace.
“He did. I sold it and partied with the money.” Monette sighed. “But he got it back for me. I think that little shack is still in my name. You know the one, Talia.” She looked at Talia steadily.
“You mean…” Talia’s voice faded.
Derrick knew without asking. He remembered the house all too vividly. An image of a lanky dark man lying on the cracked wood floor flashed in his head for a second. Somehow he’d assumed, no, hoped, it had been torn down years ago. He snapped out of his reverie and looked at Talia. She looked pale from what must have been terrifying memories rushing back. Derrick went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Talia,” Monette said quietly. She wiped a hand over her face and went on. “Anyway, I started runnin’ with somebody else behind his back. Real smart, right?”
“Earl?” Talia said.
“Damn,” Derrick murmured, when Monette gave a sharp nod.
Monette nodded. “Drugs drain what little sense you got right outta your brain. About two weeks after Earl was gone, Winn told me he knew.”
“I’m assuming he didn’t take it very well.” Jim frowned.
“He acted real cool like he didn’t care. Winn smiled, and said, ‘I’ll see you’re taken care of, sugar.’ Six months later I got arrested. He wore that same smile the first day I saw him in court.”
They all fell silent for a long time, each contemplating the implications of having a powerful man as an enemy. Monette had gone to prison. Derrick stood close to Talia, hoping she’d turn to him. She stiffened when he put his arm around her. Talia shrugged free of his embrace and stood.
“The fact is, Monette, you were with those guys, and they were carrying drugs,” she said in a flat tone.
“It’s true I was partyin’ with them, but they got the coke after they dropped me off. They made a buy, then picked me up again. Winn offered each of them a deal, made it clear I was supposed to go down. Jerome knows.”
“No wonder—” Derrick broke off when Jim gave a slight shake of his head.
Monette glanced at him then at Derrick. “What?”
Talia waved a hand at the two men. “They always kid themselves that they’re protecting us. Jerome Hines was beaten up. The newspapers say it was a botched home invasion.”
“Like hell,” Monette retorted promptly.
Talia’s eyebrows drew together. “I’d bet he was the guy that called me.”
Monette wore a pensive expression for several minutes. “If he’s turned on Winn, then he’s tryin’ to protect himself. Of course he might feel bad about me bein’ in prison.”
“Too bad I can’t ask him.” Derrick crossed his arms.
“Dead?” Monette asked and the others looked at Derrick sharply.
“No, but he’s been slipping in and out of consciousness. The doctors won’t
even let the police detectives question him. Not that they’d get much,” Derrick replied.
“So my best witness might not live another day, much less another three weeks,” Jim said, his voice glum.
“We don’t know he would have cooperated. He certainly wasn’t too happy to answer questions when I talked to him,” Derrick said.
“That’s not all, Winn was always cuttin’ shady deals. Jerome knows where the bodies are buried,” Monette said.
Talia took a step back from them all. “Just leave it alone. Too many people have gotten hurt already. It’s not like you can prove anything. Monette’s kept her record clean in prison. That should be enough to influence the parole board.”
“Winn got me convicted of a crime I didn’t do. Every two years he wrote letters to the board arguin’ against me bein’ released,” Monette said, and strained forward. “I ain’t takin’ this lyin’ down.”
“Relax, Monette.” Jim gently guided her against the pillows.
“Well, maybe I’m gonna have to take it lyin’ down for a while.” She smiled weakly at Jim.
“I know how you feel. I take heat for working with the district attorney. But it’s about the truth, not just locking people up,” Derrick said heatedly. “I’m with you, ma’am. Sick or not, I’m going to talk to Hines. If he did call Talia, then he’s willing to right this wrong. Either way I’m going to find out.”
“Be careful. Your boss is close to Barron,” Jim said.
“Larry won’t stand by him if he knows about this,” Derrick said. “But he’s going to want hard evidence before he believes it.”
“Who would? All they gotta do is look at my history and compare it to him. He’s old money, from judges, congressmen, a lieutenant governor even.” Monette closed her eyes. “Time for me to quit doin’ things the hard way. I’m always stirrin’ up trouble. I been so selfish all my life. Here I’m puttin’ all of y’all in danger and for what? Talia’s right.”